Friday, July 05, 2013

W.B.'s Book Report: Unicorn Western

It began as a laugh among friends. It has evolved into a nine-novella epic with the promise of two more epics to come. The story of how Unicorn Western came to be is almost as much fun as the actual story.

Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant are two-thirds of a podcasting team that meets weekly to talk about writing and self-publishing. One day the other third, David W. Wright, took exception to Platt’s stated desire to write a western someday. Too much trouble, too much research needed to make it authentic – for example, do you know what color was the smoke from those old six-shooters? Hilarity ensued.

The solution to Wright’s objection: Put a unicorn in the story. That way when people question what appears to be an unrealistic detail, you can respond that this isn’t the real Earth: “If we’ve filled the world with unicorns, I’d say we can do anything we want!”

A few short months later, the joke is a series of novellas available as ebooks separately or in ebook and print as Unicorn Western: Full Saga – a sprawling tale of magic and prairie justice that spans decades and pays homage to at least nine films along the way. (Because I need an occasional break from electronic screens, I opted for the 690-page book.) There are plenty of in-jokes and winks that will bring a knowing smile or a laugh-out-loud to people familiar with the films and The Self-Publishing Podcast – my favorites are the prophetic owls – but the story creates a mythology all its own and stands up as a rousing yarn despite its goofy origins.

This is not Atlas Shrugged or even Lord of the Rings – the main thing it has in common with those works of literature is its length – but the payoff is definitely worth the long ride; the authors entertain and make you care along the way. Unicorn Western is the reader’s equivalent of a summer blockbuster movie, well worth the time invested and leaving you with anticipation of the sequel(s).

1 comment:

Are there doctrines that have to be believed in order to be saved? If men believe all the New Covenant doctrines, but one, will they still have their sins forgiven?

If men believe all of God's doctrines except that Jesus is the Christ will their sins be forgiven?

John 8:24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins. If you do not believe that I am the Christ, you will die in your sins." (TLV New Life Version)

Will men enter into the kingdom of heaven even if they believe that there are many gods and that they themselves can become a god?

Mark 12:29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. (NKJV)

If men deny that God raised Jesus from the dead will they still be saved? Is is possible to not confess Jesus and receive salvation?

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.(NKJV)

Can Christians express the view that there are multiple paths to heaven and remain saved?

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth , and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (NKJV)

On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the highest, what are the odds that men can reject water baptism or teach that water baptism is not essential for the forgiveness of sins and still have their sins forgiven?

Acts 2:38 The Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NKJV)

How many of God's teaching can men reject and still be saved?

WILL GOD JUDGE MEN ON THE DOCTRINES TAUGHT BY CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS AND OTHER RELIGIONS OR WILL HE JUDGE MEN ACCORDING THE DOCTRINES FOUND IN THE BIBLE?

About Uncle Warren

I live in Door County not far from the shores of Green Bay, Wisconsin, with my life partner, two golden retrievers and a parcel of cats. In addition to being the mild-mannered editor of a local community paper, I am the author of the Myke Phoenix series, Refuse to be Afraid, The Imaginary Revolution and Wildflower Man. Expect to find musings here about life in these interesting times, my latest projects and pop culture.